Martinelli Zinfandel Vigneto Di Evo 2019, Russian River Valley, California

This tiny vineyard site is on Martinelli Road in Forestville, where the original family homestead ranch was founded in 1898 and where members of the family still live today. The planting of the vines date back to sometime around the turn-of-the-century. Evo Martinelli was the grandson of Giuseppe & Luisa Martinelli, whom emigrated from Italy. After picking, the whole berries undergo a long cool fermentation to generate skin contact and expose fruit character and are fermented with wild yeast. The juice is transferred to oak barrels with a touch of residual sugar remaining to complete the fermentation process in barrel until dry. It rests in 35% new French oak on its gross lees for ten months. “Our 2019 ‘Vigneto di Evo’ Zinfandel is inviting aromas of juicy raspberry, black cheery and white peach hit your nose with the first swirl in your glass. Lively upon entry with flavors of ripe strawberry and sweet leather are followed by firm tannins and lasting pomegranate finish” – Winery